Republicans Jon Fay and Trei McMullen are running to succeed term-limited Republican Rep. Alex Andrade in House District 2.
The reliably red seat includes Pensacola, stretching from the Alabama state line to Navarre.
Both men are veterans and first-time candidates, though Fay has a sizable fundraising advantage. The winner will face Generation Z Democrat Johnny Austin Thompson in November.
Florida Politics asked both candidates to answer a few questions. We are publishing their responses unedited so voters can hear directly from candidates. Here’s what Fay told us:
— Profession: I am a retired Navy Commander and Naval Flight Officer whose 24-year career included six deployments supporting combat operations around the world. I was honored to be recognized as the Chief of Naval Air Forces, Pacific 2009 Naval Flight Officer of the Year and later served as a defense legislative liaison on Capitol Hill and Executive Officer of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Today, I am a small-business owner and aviation-aftermarket executive responsible for a multimillion-dollar business portfolio.
— Education: I earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the United States Naval Academy, an Executive MBA from the Naval Postgraduate School, and completed Air Command and Staff College, Georgetown University’s Capitol Hill Fellowship Program, and advanced defense and public-policy certificate programs through the Naval Postgraduate School and Defense Acquisition University.
— Years in the district: My family and I have lived in House District 2 for nearly 10 years across three Navy tours — as a flight student, flight instructor and Blue Angels Executive Officer — and chose to make Pensacola our permanent home after I retired from the U.S. Navy.
— Community involvement: My family lives, works, worships and attends school in House District 2. We have always attended First Baptist Church of Pensacola. I serve as Secretary of the Veterans Florida board (Governor DeSantis appointed position), Blue Angels Association, and previously sat on the board for USO Florida. I support veterans through the Blue Angels Foundation, Home Base, Carry The Load, VetCV, the USNA Alumni Association, Marine Memorial Association, and other military organizations. My wife and I regularly attend local organizations and events supporting IMPACT 100, Pensacola’s Finest Foundation, Fred Levin Way Fest, and Rally on the Runway.
— Why are you running? What are your top priorities if elected? I am running because service has defined every chapter of my life, and House District 2 is home. My family lives, works, worships, volunteers and attends school here. After eight military moves and six schools for our children, Pensacola is where we chose to plant roots. I want our children — and every family in this district — to be able to build a life here without being priced out or forced to leave in search of opportunity. My priorities are to make Florida more affordable; protect our military installations and veterans; strengthen public safety; defend faith, family, life, parental rights and constitutional freedoms; expand workforce, small-business, and economic development opportunities; and secure the infrastructure our growing community needs. I will bring servant leadership, relentless work ethic, and a record of teamwork and delivering results.
— What are the biggest challenges facing the district, and what can you realistically do about them if elected? Our greatest challenges are affordability and creating high-quality opportunities for families to build their futures here. Taxes, housing, insurance, groceries, utilities and transportation consume too much of the family budget, while many young people believe they must leave Northwest Florida to find a strong career. Growth has also outpaced infrastructure. Families see it on our roads, in drainage problems, and strained public-safety resources and schools. We must also protect the military missions that anchor our economy and identity. I will fight for responsible tax and insurance reforms, reduce unnecessary regulatory costs, support workforce education and small businesses, and help recruit high-wage aerospace, manufacturing, cybersecurity, and defense jobs. I will also build coalitions, fight for our fair share of state infrastructure dollars and work with FDOT and local officials to move priority projects forward.
— What specific policies do you propose to make life more affordable for constituents? Affordability requires addressing the costs government can influence rather than pretending Tallahassee can control every market price. I support meaningful property-tax relief while protecting law enforcement, fire services and schools, as well as our military, veterans, and elderly populations. We should continue insurance reforms that attract private carriers, reward home-hardening, reduce frivolous litigation, and keep Citizens as the insurer of last resort. Florida must maintain disciplined spending and return surplus revenue rather than turning temporary collections into permanent programs. To lower housing costs, we need to streamline permitting, eliminate duplicative regulations, shorten approval timelines, encourage responsible workforce housing and protect private-property rights. Infrastructure must keep pace with development so existing residents are not left paying for new growth. I will work to expand career and technical education, apprenticeships and industry partnerships so Floridians can move into higher-paying careers without unnecessary debt. We need to make it easier for military spouses, veterans and skilled workers to transfer professional licenses and enter the workforce, with the goal of ultimately retaining that talent in Florida long-term. Families should not subsidize speculative projects or large industrial users. Those creating extraordinary demand must pay the full cost they impose on power, water and infrastructure. I will support targeted sales-tax relief, oppose new broad-based taxes and scrutinize state mandates that raise costs.
— Is the Republican majority focused on the right priorities? Is there anything you disagree with your party on? Generally, yes. Florida Republicans have been right to defend parental rights, school choice, the unborn, the Second Amendment, law enforcement, lower taxes and freedom from federal overreach. But I am not seeking office to become a rubber stamp for anyone or any party. My loyalty is to the Constitution and the people I represent. I will speak up when government grows unnecessarily, spending lacks accountability, or political theater distracts from kitchen-table issues. The next Legislature must continue to remain focused on affordability, property insurance, infrastructure, education, public safety and economic opportunity. Conservative government is best measured by whether it protects freedom, delivers core services well and respects the taxpayer.
— Many counties have recently enacted data center bans and moratoriums, but our use of AI tools continues to grow. Is there a place for data centers anywhere in Florida, or should other states host the infrastructure that powers AI? That’s to be determined based on what the Governor’s reforms and study show in the coming years — but not every project belongs in every community. AI, cloud computing and advanced technology are increasingly important to business and national security. Florida should not surrender the high-wage jobs and investment they may bring. But economic development cannot mean privatizing the profit while socializing the cost. A data center should pay its full cost for power, water, roads and emergency services. It must not raise residential utility rates, deplete water supplies, weaken grid reliability, threaten military operations, or impose unacceptable impacts on neighboring communities. Local governments must retain meaningful land-use authority, and projects should face transparent water and energy reviews, appropriate setbacks and strong use of reclaimed water where feasible.
— You and your opponent are both veterans, as are many residents of the district. What can you do as a state representative to ensure Florida takes better care of its veterans? Taking care of veterans is not a campaign theme for me. I have lived the transition from military service to civilian life, and I am committed to ensuring that the patriots who stepped forward to serve receive the respect and support they have earned. My goal is simply to remove barriers, keep promises and help veterans continue serving their families and communities. I have led at the tactical, operational and strategic levels — from caring for Sailors and families in a squadron to serving in legislative affairs at the highest levels of the Department of War. Today, as Secretary of the Veterans Florida board, I help connect veterans and military spouses with employment, entrepreneurship and transition opportunities throughout the state. As a state representative, I would strengthen access to earned benefits and county veterans service officers; support veteran employment, licensing portability and entrepreneurship, improve mental-health, suicide-prevention and housing resources, support Veterans Treatment Courts, and address military-family needs such as spouse employment and child care. I will also fight to protect Northwest Florida’s bases and military missions.
